European Rugby Champions Cup: Wasps v Harlequins preview

In the lone all-Premiership showdown of the weekend, Wasps host Harlequins at Adams Park and both sides want victory following differing starts

Harlequins triumphed in the inaugural Champions Cup match and will be keen to double their win tally, while Wasps are still in need of their first victory after being edged out by Leinster.

Conor O’Shea’s Quins have already beaten their London rivals once this term, running out 26-23 winners at The Stoop in the Premiership, while this will be the first European meeting.

After their spirited performance against Leinster, Wasps will hope they can earn their rewards, while Harlequins will return to domestic action with European matters firmly under control should they prevail.

After their convincing performance against Castres in the opening round of action O’Shea has largely kept faith in his side, with just one rotation.

Kyle Sinckler, the uncompromising prop who rose to Premiership stardom last term, comes into the starting XV at tighthead with Will Collier dropping down to the bench.

Collier, who is successfully on the road to full recovery from a neck injury last term, insists the mood in the Quins camp is electric following their victory over Castres.

"It was excellent last week against Castres,” he told the club’s official website. “Everything just seemed to click, we had a great buzz, we were playing with real confidence which is what we love and we need to do.

"We need confidence when we play. You can see it in the way the team plays and the way the team functions. Even when we were still 9-6 up and there were 50, 60 minutes gone but we weren't looking at the scoreboard.

Big game

"We are a big game team and that was a huge game, coming out with all the fireworks and kicking off the new competition. It was great to be a part of and we probably all got caught up with it."

Meanwhile, following their defeat to Leinster, Wasps director of rugby Dai Young has been forced into changes.

Tom Varndell returns to the wing, while Sam Jones starts at open side in the absence of James Haskell, who is still recovering from the virus that ruled him out of last weekend’s match against Leinster.

After a highly physical game last weekend, Young told the club’s official website: “It was a definite step up in intensity last weekend and after making around 192 tackles the bodies have been pretty sore this week, but I’m pleased with how the squad has come through training.

“Obviously we were disappointed to lose on Sunday, but the effort and commitment was fantastic. It was a big learning curve for a number of our guys who hadn’t played in the top level of Europe before or experienced the intensity it brings. 

“Picking up a losing bonus point away against a team like Leinster is commendable, but only if we back it up with a win at home. If you don’t win at home you put yourself under so much pressure in any competition, but particularly in a European knock-out tournament.

“Win your home games and you are still in with a big shout. It concentrates the mind and the boys are fully focussed on the task ahead.”

Wasps: 15 Andrea Masi; 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliott Daly, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Tom Varndell; 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson; 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Bradley Davies, 6 Ashley Johnson, 7 Sam Jones, 8 Nathan Hughes
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Chris Bell

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown; 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 George Lowe, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma; 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care; 1 Joe Marler (capt), 2 Dave Ward, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Charlie Matthews, 5 George Robson, 6 Luke Wallace, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Nick Easter
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Sam Twomey, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21, Karl Dickson, 22 Jordan Turner-Hall, 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague